“You don’t have to make installments now; save a lump sum and then pay off the debt all at once. That way, the debt is wiped out.”
Many may have seen advice like this on social media. However, for those who have "gritted their teeth" and maintained financial discipline by paying debts on time, such advice can be disheartening because debt resolution efforts often focus more on "problem debtors" than on "disciplined borrowers."
Especially recently, at the beginning of 2026, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) has promoted the "Quick Debt Closure, Move Forward" program focusing on helping people with non-performing loans (NPL), meaning debts overdue for more than 90 days. But what about the “good debtors” who pay every installment on time? Ultimately, do they receive fewer benefits?
The "Quick Debt Closure, Move Forward" program by the BOT, which opened for participation on 5 Jan 2026, targets individuals with non-performing debts up to 100,000 baht per person. It covers all financial service providers registered with the National Credit Bureau (NCB), including credit card and personal loan debts. The initial phase focuses on unsecured loans and portions of secured debts, such as those who had their homes repossessed and auctioned but still owe some residual amounts.
What debtors receive upon joining this program:
1) Discounts when "paying off debts in full" If the debtor has a lump sum, they can pay off debts managed by the Asset Management Corporation (SAM), which has acquired the non-performing debts, and receive additional discounts.
2) 0% annual interest if requesting "installment payments" This measure allows partial debt reduction followed by installment payments to SAM over a maximum of three years. If payments are made according to the agreed contract, interest, fees, and costs accrued before the program’s suspension of payments will be waived.
Though it sounds like a substantial "discount," for those opting for the installment plan, missing payments or failing to clear debts means losing these discounts. Moreover, if agreed installments cannot be met, their credit bureau records will revert to code 26 (overdue payments exceeding 90 days from debt servicing with the AMC).
Overall, the "Quick Debt Closure, Move Forward" program is a special initiative designed to address Thailand's high household debt. The BOT believes that if individuals with non-performing debts under 100,000 baht improve their credit history quickly, they may regain access to formal credit without encouraging moral hazard. Latest data from SAM shows nearly 90,000 registrations between 5-7 Jan 2026.
Note: Key conditions of this program include
- Debtors must have NPL status as of 30 Sept 2025; debts turning non-performing after this date are ineligible.
- Debtors must not be bankrupt or listed in the Anti-Money Laundering Office's Sanction list.
- Certain debts are excluded, such as car title loans and nano finance loans guaranteed by the Small Industry Credit Guarantee Corporation (SICGC), as these are secured loans.
For disciplined borrowers who pay on time, state and commercial banks have increasingly offered tangible benefits, including cash and interest discounts, such as:
Government Savings Bank (GSB) recently launched the "Good Discipline Returns" measure providing a 1,000 baht gift per borrower (for those who have paid on time continuously for three years, never had debts written off or restructured, and have normal debt status). This targets borrowers with loans up to 2 million baht, redeemable via the MyMo app by 31 Jan 2026.
Government Housing Bank (GHB) announced in Dec 2025 the "New Year 2026 Gift Program to Promote Financial Discipline for GHB Customers" offering a 1,000 baht cash back per borrower with normal account status for all loan accounts under the same collateral totaling no more than 2 million baht, who have paid installments fully and on time for four years (up to Nov 2025). However, applicants must register for electronic document services via the app, which may be somewhat inconvenient.
ttb bank launched the "Good Payment Rewards" campaign in mid-2025 for home loans, personal loans, and car title loans. Borrowers with good repayment records who refinance or transfer debts to ttb receive additional interest rate discounts. This program is still active despite some data indicating it ended on 31 Aug 2025.
From this data, it appears those who consistently pay on time—even if only minimum payments to avoid non-performing status—may benefit less than those with non-performing debts. However, Thairath Money invites readers to consider three reasons why disciplined borrowers might gain more.
Negotiation power: Disciplined borrowers can approach their current bank to request interest rate reductions (retention) or refinance with another bank to secure special low rates anytime, saving tens to hundreds of thousands baht in interest over the loan term.
Uninterrupted liquidity: Good debtors avoid risks of lawsuits, card credit suspension, or debt collection calls, which incur unquantifiable mental health costs.
Clean credit (code 10) Normal account status in the credit bureau is the best "gateway" if in the future you want to buy a bigger home or start a business loan. Compared to those with non-performing debt history, good credit holders generally have higher approval chances and better interest rates.
In many cases, discounted or written-off non-performing debts mainly come from accumulated unpaid interest, forming a large lump sum. So, think carefully—it may not be a true "debt discount."
Therefore, do not hastily follow advice to stop payments and wait for discounts, as the damage to your credit record could cost far more than any discount you might receive.
Sources: Bank of Thailand, Government Savings Bank, ttb bank, Government Housing Bank
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